Grade 7Reading: grades 7-9IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations

The Sky-Pirate of Zephyr Peak

The legendary Skylight Astrolabe has been stolen from the Grand Observatory! Without it, the skyships will wander lost in the high-altitude storms. The Chief Cartographer spotted the culprit fleeing into the misty clouds, but we need your mathematical puzzle-solving skills to track them down before they escape the archipelago.

Suspects

Possible suspects

Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.

21 of 21 still in play

Name	Vessel Class	Infiltration Tool	Goggle Position	Hair Style	Vulnerability
Captain Amelia	Brass Zeppelin	Pneumatic Boots	Goggles over eyes	Neon blue streak	Steam whistles
Maxwell Bolt	Steam Cruiser	Pneumatic Boots	Goggles over eyes	Neon blue streak	Steam whistles
Amelia Earhart	Brass Zeppelin	Pneumatic Boots	Goggles on forehead	Neon blue streak	Steam whistles
Nellie Bly	Brass Zeppelin	Grappling Harpoon	Goggles on forehead	Copper-plated braid	High-altitude drafts
Orla Windward	Solar Skiff	Pneumatic Boots	Goggles over eyes	Neon blue streak	Steam whistles
Mae Jemison	Rusty Dreadnought	Smoke Bombs	Goggles on forehead	Copper-plated braid	Magnetic storms
Professor Orion	Solar Skiff	Pneumatic Boots	Goggles over eyes	Soot-dusted spikes	High-altitude drafts
Jules Verne	Brass Zeppelin	Smoke Bombs	Goggles on forehead	Soot-dusted spikes	Steam whistles
Gears Higgins	Brass Zeppelin	Grappling Harpoon	Goggles over eyes	Neon blue streak	Magnetic storms
Sable Drake	Rusty Dreadnought	Pneumatic Boots	Goggles over eyes	Neon blue streak	High-altitude drafts
Marco Polo	Wind Glider	Pneumatic Boots	Goggles over eyes	Soot-dusted spikes	Magnetic storms
Ada Lovelace	Brass Zeppelin	Pneumatic Boots	Goggles over eyes	Neon blue streak	Magnetic storms
Jacques Piccard	Solar Skiff	Smoke Bombs	Goggles over eyes	Neon blue streak	Magnetic storms
Silas Vance	Wind Glider	Grappling Harpoon	Goggles over eyes	Neon blue streak	Steam whistles
Viktor Brass	Wind Glider	Clockwork Glider	Goggles on forehead	Neon blue streak	Steam whistles
Cyrus Vance	Steam Cruiser	Grappling Harpoon	Goggles over eyes	Copper-plated braid	Steam whistles
Zephyr Jack	Rusty Dreadnought	Clockwork Glider	Goggles over eyes	Neon blue streak	Magnetic storms
Helena Sky	Solar Skiff	Pneumatic Boots	Goggles over eyes	Copper-plated braid	Steam whistles
Lyra Sterling	Rusty Dreadnought	Electric Net	Goggles over eyes	Neon blue streak	Steam whistles
Jasper Finch	Steam Cruiser	Smoke Bombs	Goggles over eyes	Copper-plated braid	High-altitude drafts
Evelyn Finch	Solar Skiff	Smoke Bombs	Goggles on forehead	Neon blue streak	Magnetic storms

Clue 1

Integers

The sky-ship's altimeter recorded a series of climbs and drops as the thief fled. Track the net change in altitude to unlock the first cabin door.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

(-15) + 25 =T

(-5) + 14 =D

7 - (-15) =S

2 - (-4) =F

(-3) + 5 =O

(-11) + 12 =C

3 - (-11) =I

(-2) + 18 =A

6 - (-2) =R

(-7) + 11 =H

(-14) + 38 =E

(-8) + 27 =L

17 - (-11) =N

(-11) + 14 =U

0/14 letters found

Clue 2

Percentages

We scanned the cargo hold's fuel cells. Calculate the remaining energy percentage to power up the tracker and reveal the suspect's gear.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

25% of 88 =T

20% of 170 =L

75% of 52 =R

20% of 250 =P

60% of 20 =O

10% of 60 =U

25% of 116 =C

25% of 208 =Y

20% of 25 =G

50% of 94 =W

5% of 660 =I

10% of 450 =S

10% of 440 =V

20% of 20 =H

10% of 350 =E

0/15 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

A locked brass keypad blocks the engine room. Solve the sequence of operations in the correct order to override the lock and find the hair sample.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

111

100

111

120

110

111

100

111

110

9 × 11 - 8 =S

10 × 9 - 24 =W

2 + 3 × 3 =M

75 + 2 × 9 =V

8 × 9 - 15 =F

1 + 2 × 4 =T

12 × 12 - 24 =G

11 × 11 - 11 =N

12 × 10 - 20 =L

93 + 9 × 2 =I

8 × 10 - 25 =R

4 + 5 × 6 =E

8 × 5 - 1 =H

7 + 3 × 8 =A

0/14 letters found

Clue 4

Exponents

The thief's homing beacon pulses on an exponential scale. Evaluate the power level to pinpoint the signal's origin and discover their physical weakness.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

216

225

400

289

243

125

324

243

128

125

121

225

169

324

216

289

128

3^2 =N

7^2 =E

15^2 =L

2^5 =I

11^2 =W

2^7 =D

13^2 =F

3^5 =A

18^2 =T

2^6 =O

4^2 =R

17^2 =H

6^3 =B

5^3 =S

20^2 =U

0/15 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

We need to calculate the boiler pressure over time to find the thief's escape route. Solve for the missing variable to reveal their final trait.

First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!

Step 1 — solve these

6x + 8 = 44, x = ?

6x + 5 = 71, x = ?

2x + 3 = 21, x = ?

6x + 8 = 68, x = ?

4x + 3 = 31, x = ?

4x + 7 = 11, x = ?

5x + 7 = 27, x = ?

6x + 5 = 23, x = ?

4x + 1 = 49, x = ?

2x + 9 = 25, x = ?

5x + 4 = 14, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain navigated a wind glider, then escaped on a clockwork glider.

2.The villain piloted a steam cruiser, then fired a grappling harpoon.

3.The villain navigated a wind glider, then activated an electric net.

4.The villain sailed a rusty dreadnought, then fired a grappling harpoon.

5.The villain piloted a steam cruiser, then leaped with pneumatic boots.

6.The villain flew a brass zeppelin, then leaped with pneumatic boots.

7.The villain navigated a wind glider, then dropped dense smoke bombs.

8.The villain flew a brass zeppelin, then escaped on a clockwork glider.

9.The villain steered a solar skiff, then leaped with pneumatic boots.

10.The villain sailed a rusty dreadnought, then leaped with pneumatic boots.

11.The villain navigated a wind glider, then fired a grappling harpoon.

12.The villain steered a solar skiff, then dropped dense smoke bombs.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Sky-Pirate of Zephyr Peak

Culprit: Maxwell Bolt (Steam Cruiser · Pneumatic Boots · Goggles over eyes · Neon blue streak · Steam whistles)

Clue 1 (Integers): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE AN ELECTRIC NET"
(-15) + 25 = 10 (T) · (-5) + 14 = 9 (D) · 7 - (-15) = 22 (S) · 2 - (-4) = 6 (F) · (-3) + 5 = 2 (O) · (-11) + 12 = 1 (C) · 3 - (-11) = 14 (I) · (-2) + 18 = 16 (A) · 6 - (-2) = 8 (R) · (-7) + 11 = 4 (H) · (-14) + 38 = 24 (E) · (-8) + 27 = 19 (L) · 17 - (-11) = 28 (N) · (-11) + 14 = 3 (U)
Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE SUSPECT WORE GOGGLES OVER THEIR EYES"
25% of 88 = 22 (T) · 20% of 170 = 34 (L) · 75% of 52 = 39 (R) · 20% of 250 = 50 (P) · 60% of 20 = 12 (O) · 10% of 60 = 6 (U) · 25% of 116 = 29 (C) · 25% of 208 = 52 (Y) · 20% of 25 = 5 (G) · 50% of 94 = 47 (W) · 5% of 660 = 33 (I) · 10% of 450 = 45 (S) · 10% of 440 = 44 (V) · 20% of 20 = 4 (H) · 10% of 350 = 35 (E)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "STEAM WHISTLES FRIGHTEN THIS VILLAIN"
9 × 11 - 8 = 91 (S) · 10 × 9 - 24 = 66 (W) · 2 + 3 × 3 = 11 (M) · 75 + 2 × 9 = 93 (V) · 8 × 9 - 15 = 57 (F) · 1 + 2 × 4 = 9 (T) · 12 × 12 - 24 = 120 (G) · 11 × 11 - 11 = 110 (N) · 12 × 10 - 20 = 100 (L) · 93 + 9 × 2 = 111 (I) · 8 × 10 - 25 = 55 (R) · 4 + 5 × 6 = 34 (E) · 8 × 5 - 1 = 39 (H) · 7 + 3 × 8 = 31 (A)
Clue 4 (Exponents): "NEON BLUE HAIR STRANDS WERE LEFT BEHIND"
3^2 = 9 (N) · 7^2 = 49 (E) · 15^2 = 225 (L) · 2^5 = 32 (I) · 11^2 = 121 (W) · 2^7 = 128 (D) · 13^2 = 169 (F) · 3^5 = 243 (A) · 18^2 = 324 (T) · 2^6 = 64 (O) · 4^2 = 16 (R) · 17^2 = 289 (H) · 6^3 = 216 (B) · 5^3 = 125 (S) · 20^2 = 400 (U)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 5) → Maxwell Bolt
6x + 8 = 44, x = 6 · 6x + 5 = 71, x = 11 · 2x + 3 = 21, x = 9 · 6x + 8 = 68, x = 10 · 4x + 3 = 31, x = 7 · 4x + 7 = 11, x = 1 · 5x + 7 = 27, x = 4 · 6x + 5 = 23, x = 3 · 4x + 1 = 49, x = 12 · 2x + 9 = 25, x = 8 · 5x + 4 = 14, x = 2

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 7 math
Math topics: Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
Reading level: grades 7-9
Theme: The Sky-Pirate of Zephyr Peak — set in the floating islands of the Aether Archipelago
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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